Udall, who has lived in Colorado for several decades, was born and raised in Tucson, the district his late father, Mo, represented for nearly 30 years in Congress. Democrat Mark Udall served in the Colorado Legislature, Congress and as a U.S. senator before losing in November to Republican Cory Gardner of Yuma.

Udall served on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and led the bipartisan effort to rein in the NSA’s dragnet collection of Americans’ personal data. He was one of the leading advocates for releasing the Senate Intelligence Committee’s study of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program.

A majority of Denver metro area residents support a proposed ballot measure for 2016 that would allow Colorado to remain on daylight saving time year round, according to a new poll to be made public Monday

Asked if they would vote “yes” or “no” on the time issue, 54 percent said yes, 33 percent said no and 13 percent either refused to answer or didn’t know.

The poll, from Allstate Corp. and National Journal, also explored Americans’ experiences and attitudes toward their local communities in comparison to the rest of the country. The poll is part of The Next Economy series, a seven-year partnership between Allstate and Atlantic Media, of which National Journal is a part.

Redrawn boundaries take effect for Denver’s 2015 City Council election, with all 11 districts and two at-large seats on the ballot. (Courtesy city and county of Denver)

UPDATED (12:12 p.m. March 13): Reflects newly verified petitions that confirm candidates’ placement on the ballot. See ballot order as determined by a drawing on March 12 here.

With six open races and shifted district lines, the Denver election for City Council is drawing serious money. Some candidates have been surging in the last month or two.

Ahead of the May 5 election (and a potential June 2 run-off), several competitive races are heating up. In just over five weeks, mail ballots will go out to voters.

Denver mayor Michael Hancock. (Denver Post file)

Coming up on Thursday — one day after candidates must submit enough confirmed voter signatures on ballot petitions — the clerk and recorder’s office will use a random drawing to determine ballot order in each race. Also up this year are auditor and the clerk and recorder’s office. And, of course, Denver mayor. But there’s no real contest there, with Mayor Michael Hancock looking likely to slide into a second term with no serious challenge.

Even so, Hancock raised an impressive $136,515 in February, with his total contributions in this cycle topping $1.1 million.

After a couple recent council candidate withdrawals, here are how races look now, with fundraising totals through Feb. 28. (The latest campaign finance reports were filed late last week.) I’ve also noted when candidates have donated more than $1,000 to their own campaigns — one has dipped into his pockets for $50,000 — or loaned their campaigns money. And I’ve included maps that show which neighborhoods are now in each district.

Those marked with an asterisk had not yet qualified for the ballot before the March 11 deadline. (Those still marked as of March 13 failed to qualify and won’t appear on the ballot.)

>>AT-LARGE

Incumbents Robin Kniech and Debbie Ortega are seeking second terms as at-large members. Voters make two selections, and there is no run-off in this race.

Former House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, a Republican, and House Speaker Pro Tem Dan Pabon, a Democrat, a reception for Stephens, who has joined the McKenna, Long & Aldridge law firm as its government affairs director. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

The Colorado attorney general, a former House speaker and a rookie newspaper editor were among those who showed up this week at a reception for former House Majority Leaders Amy Stephens, who is heading the state government affairs office for a prominent Denver law firm.

Newly sworn in Attorney General Cynthia Coffman congratulated McKenna Long & Aldridge on their new hire, saying she wished she had figured out first a way to hire Stephens in her office. Coffman and Stephens are Republicans; members of McKenna include Democrats Dave Fine, a former Denver city attorney, and Lino Lipinsky, husband of U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette.

“Your firm has risen in stature just overnight, among Republicans especially,” Coffman said to laughter. “Before long, your offices will be pink, and there will be a sign that says ‘Keep calm on and carry on’ and you will wonder what hit you but you know it will be great.”

UPDATE: Energy In Depth accused environmentalists on the panel of flip flopping.

The co-chair of an oil-and-gas task force appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper sent a letter to her colleagues about their work, which at times was “disheartening” and “disappointing” but she said she remains “hopeful” that the rules “will truly result in less impact on the lives of people who live near oil and gas facilities.”

Gwen Lachelt (La Plata County)

Gwen Lachelt seemed particularly upset that the task force did not send a “strong” recommendation to the governor and the legislature that local governments “should have greater authority in the siting of wells and other land use impacts of oil and gas development.”

The governor’s oil and gas task force last week endorsed plans for more local input on large-scale drilling projects but stopped short of supporting proposals to give any more power to local governments. The task force, created by Hickenlooper to try to resolve land-use conflicts between communities and the oil and gas industry, will forward nine of 36 proposals to him in a majority report. A proposal needed a two-thirds vote of the 21-member task force to pass. The measures that failed will be sent to Hickenlooper in a minority report.

Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams presents the state flag to Commander Ken Franklin, who is designated to be the Commander of the USS Colorado. (Provided by Williams)

UPDATE:Secretary of Wayne Williams participated in the keel ceremony.

What’s going on with Secretary of State Wayne Williams? He makes news — and it’s because he’s representing Colorado at a naval ceremony Saturday in Rhode Island?

A keel laying ceremony marks the official start of construction on a new ship. Williams will be attending the ceremony for the USS Colorado at the Quonset Point Facility in North Kingstown, R.I.

Williams, the former El Paso County clerk and recorder, took office in January, succeeding fellow Republican Scott Gessler, who regularly made headlines during his tenure. Gessler blamed media bias for some of the unflattering stories.

As Minnesota U.S. Sen. Al Franken said last week in Colorado, “Michael has a way about him that turns down the temperature. He’s really good at understanding where people come from and where we might find some common ground. These are good skills at any line of work but they are absolutely essential if you want to get anything done in the U.S. Senate.”

Dozens of environmental groups have been invited to attend the Bennet event to underscore the message, “If you’re not a climate change denier, don’t vote like one.” The message is also intended for Gov. John Hickenlooper, who has infuriated some on the left with his support for drilling and efforts to find a compromise on fracking.

Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, D-Westminster, is meeting today at the White House with Vice President Joe Biden and other high-ranking federal officials. The group will discuss policies that affect working Colorado families who might have unexpected illness or other medical difficulties.

Ulibarri is the Senate sponsor of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, HB 1258. The bill would create a mechanism by which Colorado workers could receive paid leave benefits, if they must miss work due to personal or family medical or child care needs.

“Sen. Scheffel has been an important leader on telecommunications reform at the state capitol. He has sponsored several key pieces of legislation, including last year’s successful deregulation bill, that helped rural broadband providers,” said Pete Kirchhof, executive vice president of the CTA.

Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, was honored by the American Medical Association with its prestigious Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Member of a State Legislature-Senate.

The awards are given to “encourage and stimulate public recognition for the significant accomplishments attained by men and women who are giving of themselves to advance the well-being of all.” Aguilar is a practicing physician, and her career included 23 years as a primary care provider for Denver Health.

More than two dozen legislators — Republicans and Democrats, representatives and senators — stood in a crescent formation behind the bipartisan collection of Sens. Nancy Todd and Laura Woods, Rep. Mike Foote and House Majority Leader Crisanta Duran. The foursome joined arms at the lectern in the state Capitol, an impromptu symbol they’re united in helping Colorado’s middle class do better by connecting training and education with better jobs and fatter paychecks.

Lawmakers’ to-do list in the last half of the legislative session is topped by making good on both parties’ pledge to help those lagging behind in Colorado’s fast-growing economy. Thursday they presented 10 jobs bills collectively called the Colorado Ready to Work Package.

“The General Assembly has a responsibility to do our part in bridging the gap between the education world and the employment world,” said Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs. “The term workforce development encompasses policies intended to promote coordination and successful partnerships between these two worlds.”

Attorney general candidate Cynthia Coffman makes her pitch to delegates at the GOP state assembly in Boulder April 12. She was sworn in as AG in January. (Coffman campaign)

Former Congressman Tom Tancredo, known as an immigration firebrand, has urged Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman to join 26 states in suing the federal government over President Obama’s “unconstitutional amnesty” program.

Tancredo also reminded Coffman, who took office in January, that she is the only Republican attorney general who has not joined the lawsuit and it does “not make sense for Colorado to remain on the sidelines.”

Tom Tancredo. (AP)

Tancredo on Thursday provided The Denver Post a copy of his letter, which is to be printed Friday in the Colorado Statesman. The Post asked Coffman to respond.

“In scolding me for ‘being a bad Republican by not following the lead of other Republicans,’ Mr. Tancredo has violated Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment, ‘Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican,'” Coffman said. “I find that rather ironic. While he is playing politics, I am fulfilling my commitment to provide Coloradans with the best possible legal counsel.”

Tancredo said in the letter that the lawsuit is even more critical now that when it was filed in December because “Republicans in Congress failed to halt funding for the implementation of the amnesty program in the Department of Homeland Security.”

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.